Benjamin Franklin Butler
Born: November 5, 1818
Birthplace: Deerfield, New Hampshire
Father: Captain John Butler 1786 – 1822
Mother: Charlotte Ellison 1792 – 1870
(Buried: Hildreth Family Cemetery, Lowell, Massachusetts)
Wife: Sarah Jones Hildreth 1816 – 1876
(Buried: Hildreth Family Cemetery, Lowell, Massachusetts)
Married: May 16, 1844 at Saint Anne's Episcopal Church, Lowell, Massachusetts
Children:
Blanche Butler Ames 1847 – 1939
(Buried: Hildreth Family Cemetery, Lowell, Massachusetts)
Paul Butler 1852 – 1918
(Buried: Hildreth Family Cemetery, Lowell, Massachusetts)
Ben – Israel Butler 1855 – 1881
(Buried: Hildreth Family Cemetery, Lowell, Massachusetts)
Signature:
Education:
1838: Graduated from Waterville College
Occupation before War:
Attorney in Lowell, Massachusetts
1850: Supporter of the Compromise of 1850
1853: Massachusetts State Representative
1853: Delegate to Massachusetts State Constitution Convention
1859: Massachusetts State Senator
1859: Unsuccessful Democratic Candidate Governor of Massachusetts
1860: Delegate to Democratic Party National Convention
1860: Supporter of Jefferson Davis for Democratic Nomination
1860: Supporter of John C. Breckinridge for President
1860: Recommended to President Buchanan he arrest South Carolina Delegation on charges of treason
Civil War Career:
1861: Brigadier General of Union Army Volunteer Infantry
1861: Ordered his men to restore rail service between Annapolis and Washington, D.C.
1861: Threatened he would arrest Maryland legislature if they voted for Secession Butler seized the Great Seal of Maryland
1861: Occupied Baltimore Maryland with his soldiers
1861 – 1865: Major General of Union Army Volunteers
1861: Commander of Fort Monroe in Department of Virginia
1861: Directed first union expedition to Ship Island
1862: Successfully led Command at Capture of New Orleans, Louisiana
1862: Military Governor of Louisiana
1862: Imposed strict quarantines introduced program for garbage
1862: Issued General Order Number 26
1862: Censored all newspapers in New Orleans, Louisiana
1862: Ordered the execution of William B. Mumford
1862: Ordered Seizure of $800,000.00 deposited in office of Dutch
1862: Imprisoned French Champagne Magnate Charles Heidsieck
1862: Formed first African American Regiment 1st Louisiana Native Guard
1862: Recalled as Governor in December by President Lincoln
Sought revenge against Secretary of State William Seward he felt was the one who was responsible for his recall
1863: Commander of Department of Virginia and North Carolina
1864 – 1865: Commander Army of the James
1864: Union Army Commander Battle of Chaffin’s Farm Virginia
1864: Awarded Soldiers the Butler Medal for their role at battle
1864: Participated in the Bermuda Hundred Attack
1864: Was Considered for Vice President of United States
President Lincoln issued General Order No 1 relieving Butler of Command and ordering him to Lowell Massachusetts
1865: Informed of his recall by General Grant
1865: Got a hearing before Joint Congressional Committee on Conduct of the War
1865: Retained until November that he might as Military Prosecutor for Confederate President Jefferson Davis
Occupation after War:
1865: Tried to get a position in Lincoln Administration
1866 – 1879: President National Home for Disabled Soldiers
1867 – 1875: United States Congressman from Massachusetts
1868: House Manager to conduct impeachment of Pres. Johnson
1871 – 1873: Congressional Chairman for revision of the laws
1871 – 1872: Unsuccessful Candidate Nomination for Governor
1872: Investor in Diamond Hoax of 1872
1871: Author of Initial Version Civil Rights Act of 1871
1873 – 1875: Congressional Chairman of Judiciary Committee
1875: Proposed the Civil Rights Act of 1875
1877 – 1879: United States Congressman from Massachusetts
1878: Unsuccessful Independent Candidate for Governor
Founder of Wamesit Power Company & United States Cartridge Co.
Owner of Confiscated Farms in Norfolk Virginia making Cooperatives
Sponsor of Scholarship for African Americans Phillips Andover Academy
Served on the Board of National Home for Disabled Soldiers
1883 – 1884: Governor of Massachusetts
1884: Unsuccessful Greenback Anti–Monopolist U.S. Presidential Candidate
1893: Argued a case before the Supreme Court on January 10th
Died: January 11, 1893
Place of Death: Washington D.C.
Cause of Death: Bronchial Infection
Age at time of Death: 74 years old
Burial Place: Hildreth Family Cemetery, Lowell, Massachusetts
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